School Cancels Prom over Lesbian Couple

(AP)  A school in Mississippi has called off the annual senior dance after a lesbian student demanded she be allowed to bring her girlfriend.

The American Civil Liberties Union had demanded that the Itawamba County school district allow 18-year-old Constance McMillen to attend the prom with her date.

A school board statement Wednesday announced the district wouldn't host the April 2 prom at Itawamba County Agricultural High School.

McMillen wanted to escort her girlfriend, who is also a student. McMillen also was denied permission to wear a tuxedo.

A school district policy requires that dates be of the opposite sex.

The district's statement never mentioned McMillen's request. But officials said the change was made due to recent distractions. District officials say they hope private citizens will host a prom.

[umpire17]

First off its a not a choice its how they are development in there mind when they get into purblind you don't get to choose if you are bi gay or straight

This girl deserve to go to her prom no matter what anyone says.

[kfish002]

I am a straight female and this is all ridiculous. I can't believe how persistent southerners are on being such ignorant bigots, even today in 2010. Thinking it is "abnormal" to be gay is the most uneducated string of logic pertaining to human sexuality. There are THOUSANDS if not a couple MILLION people of gay orientation. Being gay does not hurt anybody - so why is it so wrong? No form of legislation has any right to say what someone is allowed to be aroused by, it is completely a chemical/neurological response that is out of their control.

I can't help but think of the movie American Beauty when bigots get so worked up about homosexuality:
http://www.premiere.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/galleries/AmericanBeauty1999ChrisCooperColFrankF/44307-1-eng-US/AmericanBeauty1999ChrisCooperColFrankF_imagelarge.jpg

hahahaha.

[kfish002]

And the retort of: "the Bible says so" does not hold any weight in logical, moral justice.

[hollywildchild]

ok i don't see why schools are suck ******* control freaks and tell students what we can and can't whear and why the hell shouldn't sam sex couple get the same treatment as any other couple of opposite sex its just not right and its the 1900's all over again
NARROW MINDED ASS-HOLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHA IM BI SO GUESS WHAT ******* **** YOU!!!!

[tomatoe43]

"Proms are for those who will pro-generate. These are on a dead end road of self indulgence. Who wants to promote that?"

Yes, if you can't get pregnant on prom night, what's the point of going?

[jnc1989]

I have a friend who graduated from IAHS (a PUBLIC county high school)in 2007. While she was there, a mixed-race couple was denied the right to attend prom on the same grounds that the school board is using in this case. The few good things about Mississippi are being trampled by all of this backward nonsense.

[arcanelore89]

This is ridiculous and backwards. I'm a straight woman and I went to my prom with another female friend of mine, and no one cared at all that we were same-sex dates. How can someone see this as anything else but discrimination?

[missandi-2009]

Good for them! I'm tired of people cowing down to this perversion. Homosexuality is NOT ok! Hollyweird, the liberal media, & our corrupt government can GO SUCK AN EGG!

[hollywildchild]

***** homosexuality is totally ok and a PERSONAL CHOICE so **** off the school has no right to tell them they can't attend senior prom and enjoy their senior year. so why don't you go suck an egg

[CaliMarie]

Regardless of whether YOU or anyone else believes these girls are ABnormal does not apply here! This is discrimation, plain and simple and goes against each and every persons civil rights. They have a right to go to their prom because they are students of that school and for no other reason. The school can not impose policies that are discrimitory. In a court of law, this will not hold up and I hope those girls know a damn good lawyer!

[TVO1CITW]

Some say this school needs PROGRESSIVE thinking. Progress means: favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are. Which is agreeable, however, certain things must be left out of the arena of progress where it causes division, discord and offense. Find something else to be progressive with, not homosexuality.

[ProudAmerican27]

Is progress only acceptable if it makes everyone happy? How can you even call that progress?

[SIKCHUTNAY]

MAYBE DEM SOUTHERN PRUDES SHOULD BRING BACK A DUNKING WELL

[ccdsswrkr08]

I'm a little confused. Why did they have to cancel the prom? And I've never heard of a public school who had strict rules on what students could wear to the prom, and who they could bring. When you buy prom tickets, they never asked who are you bringing. It doesn't say whether this is a public school or private school. I wonder which one it is.